Michelle Obama persuades First Granny to join new White House team

It is probably the most important addition to new White House team as America's next First Family prepares for the ultimate domestic makeover.

By Philip Sherwell in Chicago

8:13PM GMT 08 Nov 2008

Michelle Obama's mother has reluctantly agreed to leave her lifelong home on Chicago's South Side and move to Washington to help smooth the transition for the grand-daughters who dote on her.

The nation's new First Granny is Marian Robinson, 71, a fiercely independent figure who regularly made the short 10-minute journey to the Obamas' house to look after Malia, 10, and Sasha, seven, while their parents were campaigning.

As Obamamania mounts, every detail of the family's arrival in Washington is fascinating the country - including the highly-publicised search for a puppy for the girls, the youngest residents at the White House since Amy Carter arrived aged nine in 1977.

They will move in to the White House after Barack Obama is inaugurated on January 20. But President George W Bush and his wife Laura will greet their successors at the South Portico on Monday before giving them a tour of their new home - giving them the chance literally to measure the drapes.

It is the first time in living memory that three generations of a new presidential family have moved en masse to Washington, although Mrs Robinson has not yet decided whether to take rooms in the White House itself or live nearby.

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She initially told her daughter that "there wasn't enough space" and said she "didn't want to intrude" - hardly major concerns in the 132-room structure.

Mrs Obama revealed that she "begged" her mother to come with them. "The girls are going to need her, as part of their sense of stability," she told Newsweek. "And what is true for my mom is that she does anything for us and her grandkids. All they have to do is look at her with sad eyes and she's done for."

Mrs Obama has already called called Hillary Clinton and will be contacting other prominent political wives and mothers for advice on her new role - and, most importantly, the challenges of bringing up children in the intense glare of the media spotlight. She said she admired the way the Clintons brought up and protected their daughter Chelsea during their White House tenure.

After securing her mother's promise to head to Washington, Mrs Obama's next priority is to scout out a school for the girls. Despite their liberal politics, the Obamas are expected to opt for a private establishment. The three under consideration are believed to be Georgetown Day School, Maret School and Sidwell Friends School (the Clintons' choice which for Chelsea) - all have fees between $25,000 and $30,000.

Another matter of great national import is also riveting public attention. As Mr Obama disclosed during his victory speech on Tuesday night, his daughters are to be rewarded for the 21 months of primary and presidential campaigning with a new puppy.

On Friday, after addressing the world's financial crisis in his first press conference as president-elect, he then elaborated on the dog-hunt.

This was "a major issue", he proclaimed, and "has generated more interest on our website than just about anything".

He explained: "We have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypo-allergenic. There are a number of breeds that are hypo-allergenic. On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog. But obviously a lot of shelter dogs are mutts - like me."

In joking about his colourful heritage - he is the son of a white woman from Kansas and black man from Kenya - he is probably the first leader of the free world to describe himself as a "mutt".

The American Kennel Club says that although there is actually no such thing as an allergy-free furry animal, there is a good selection of low-allergy dogs. And they don't have to be hairless or tiny - poodles and various breeds of terriers are considered a good choice for people with allergies.

The puppy is not the only treat in store for the girls. White House protocol also allows them to decorate their bedrooms with whatever colours, furniture and posters they want - so long as their parents approve. And as great fans of "sleepovers", they will be able to lure friends with facilities like the private cinema, swimming pool and bowling alley.

Although Mrs Obama was a high-flying attorney, hospital executive and major family bread-winner before her husband launched his bid for the presidency, she has made clear that she does not intend to return to work while her husband is in the White House.

She calls herself the "mom-in-chief" and has said that her priority is her children's education and helping them with their gymnastics, dance, soccer and piano lessons.

With the intensity of the campaign trail behind him, Mr Obama has also told friends that one of the greatest perks of his new job will be that he will often be able to help his daughters get up in the morning and have dinner and tuck them up at night.

The Obamas are also expected to ask some members of their tight-knit circle of friends in Chicago to follow the example of Mrs Robinson and move to Washington. Many are professionals who relocate to the capital for their jobs or serve in the new administration.